Electric bell striking device



Feb. 12, 1952 C; MENEELY ETAL 2,585,569

ELECTRIC BIELL STRIKING DEVICE Filed MaIOh 5, 1949 x l l I L l L-- r l r Attorneys Ithe clappers.

Patented Feb. 12, Y1952 ELECTRIC BELL STRIKING DEVICE Clinton Meneely and Alf W. Miller, Troy, N. Y., assignors to Menecly Bell Company, Troy, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 3, 1949, kSerial No. 79,400

6 Claims.

Our invention relates to bell ringing devices. More particularly, it pertains to an electric bell striker device, adapted to be supported within the confines of a bell, and having a novel type of solenoid and striker mechanism with means for adjusting the same vertically as well as horizontally, whereby the strike point of a bell can be found at a definite level.

Heretofore, conventional types of bell striker devices have either utilized connecting wires or cables between clappers and plungers; orthey have used plungers which push directly behind The former arrangement requires a .separate housing for the plunger and its power element, and frequently springs must be employed to reset the various parts of the mechanism after each stroke. Such cables, or wires, are frequently subjected to breakage, stretching, `or shrinkage dependent upon temperature and weather conditions. The latter arrangement made it necessary to have the power plunger move in a more or less horizontal plane. The weightr of the clapper was depended upon to return the plunger to its starting position, thereby having to combat considerable friction which often resulted in sticking and jamming.

It would be a ,distinct advantage to be able to eliminate such a construction in favor of a more ydesirable one and this has been accomplished by means of `the present invention.

Generally4 it is an object of the present invention to provide an electric bell striker device which will overcome the foregoing difficulties and disadvantages, which is economic of manufacture, simple and durable in construction, readily andeasily assembled and which will operate with substantial freedom from wear and tear and other mechanical and electrical diiiiculties.

More specically, it is an object of the invention to provide such a device having a striker mechanism connected thereto with a pull solenoid supported by the frame in vertically operable position, the solenoid being cooperatively the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims. i

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For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: l Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view through a bell, with a portion thereof broken away, having supported within the connes thereof a preferred form of electrical bell striker device in side view yelevation rembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1, locking from the right to left 01' that gure, with a substantial portion of the bell broken away and the remainder of the bell shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a perspective viewiof an adjustable spacer assembly, depicted in separated position, for adjusting the device vertically.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is indicated generally at I0 an electric bell striker device mounted within the connes of a vbell I I. The device comprises a striker frame I2 having an upper plate I3 and a lower plate I4. These plates are held in spaced-a zart relation by vertical plates I5 and I6 which are secured thereto such as by welding or the like. In the upper plate I3 there is provided an elongated aperture shown at II in dotted line position between the upper and lower plates. 'The spacedapart horizontal plates I3 and I4 and the spacedapart vertical plates I5 and I6 provide a channel adapted to accommodate a supporting element, orbell bolt, I8, the shank of which passes through the aperture I1. A square head I9 at the lower end of the shank of the bolt I8 is mounted in the channel below the aperture I'I. This arrangement will permit horizontal adjustment of the entire device, the reasons for which will more fully appear hereinafter.

A pull solenoid arrangement, indicated generally at 2D, is supported or hung from the bottom of the striker frame I2 by two oppositely disposed U-shaped solenoid hangers 2I mounted in solenoid hanger clips or lugs 22 and held in position therein by hanger pins 23.

The solenoid is encased in a frame 24, at the bottom of which are secured two angle irons 25 on opposite sides thereof. A mounting block 2t is suspended from each angle iron 25. Passing upwardly through the mounting blocks 26, and also upwardly through the angle irons 25, are square headed bolts 21, the heads of which are recessed and rest on set screws 28, passing upwardly through the solenoid hanger framesv 2|. A rubber pad 29 is secured between the plate I4 of the striker frame I2 and the top of the solenoid frame 24 to absorb any resulting shock. The solenoid readily can be mounted in position by outwardly spreading the hangers 2|, placing the solenoid against the rubber pad, 29, allowing the hangers to drop back underneath the mounting blocks 2B and tightening the set screws 28 to thrust the solenoid against the bottom oi' the plate I4 in tightly secured position.

A solenoid plunger 30 of the pull type is mounted for vertical movement in the solenoid arrangement 20. It is provided with a horizontal bolt hole and a vertical slot. A bolt or pin 3| passes through the slot and holds two stop angles 32 in position to ride with the plunger.

Two stop bolts 33, pass through openings in the mounting blocks 26, and hang loosely below the stop angles 32. These bolts are provided with leather washers 34 and brass washers 35 which lie in the path of the stop elements, or angles 32.

A striker mechanism is indicated generally at 36. It comprises a straight back clapper arm 31 pivotally supported by a clapper pin 38 in one end of the striker frame I2. An actuating member for the clapper arm 31, constituting spacedapart arms 39 is pivotally secured at one end, by means of a pin 49, to a depending member 4I at the other end of the striker frame I2.

A connecting link 42, secured to the solenoid plunger 30, also by means of the pin 3| passing therethrough, is connected' at its bottom end to the arm 39 by a pin 43. The arm 39, at its free end, has a rotatable element such as, for example, a roller 44 which rides against the straight back clapper 31.

Adjusting means for vertically raising and lowering the entire device is indicated generally at 45, spaced between the top plate I3 of the striker frame I2 and the top of the bell through which the shank of the bolt I8 passes.

The vertical height of the device can readily be adjusted to different size bells by a fixed spacer member 46. However, a vertical adjustment, spaced between the iixed spacer member and the top of the striker frame is used for ne adjustment. This comprises two discs 41 and 48. Each disc has three sets of equally spaced steps indicated generally at 49, 50, and I respectively (Fig. 3). Each section has 8 steps rising from the surface, preferably by increments of about 1/8 of an inch as will clearly be seen from the drawing. In the closed position of the assembly, all 24 steps will make contact. As one disc is rotated in relation to the other, to the maximum expansion point, 6 steps make contact, and the overall height of the assembly will be increased, for example, about 1/8 of an inch. The assembly can be set up at any intervening point, thus permitting increments of 1/8 of an inch in overall height. It will be observed that the surface of each step is inclined somewhat so that pressure will lock the assembly in position by means of the bell bolt. ln order to prevent slipping, a. nbre washer 52 is placed between the bottom disc 48 and the top plate I3 of the striker frame I2. By means of this arrangement a ne vertical adjustment for the entire device can be obtained.

The horizontal adjustment can also readily be obtained when the bell bolt I8 is loosened and the striker frame shifted horizontally to the left or right so that the strike point of the bell readily can be found at a definite level when such adjustment is made in conjunction with the above described vertical adjustment.

In operation, the device is very simple. The drawing shows the entire assembly in its closed position, with the current turned on. The solenoid coils (not shown) hold the solenoid plunger 30 up against the solenoid frame 24. The plunger 30 also holds the arms 39 of the striker mechanism in a lifted position. The roller 44, preferably made of fibre, between the ends of the arms 39 holds the clapper 31 so that its face is a short distance from the bell. When the current is released, the plunger 39, link 42 and arm 39 fall by gravity until the stop angles 32 meet the leather washers 34 on the stop bolts 33, which have been adjusted to the proper distance. The arms 39, being pivotally mounted to the depending member 4I of the striker frame, allow the roller 44 to fall down and away from the clapper 31, thereby permitting the latter to fall away from the bell. When an electrical impulse is given, the plunger 30 immediately is pulled up into the solenoid by magnetism. This in turn, through the link 42, lifts the arms 39, and the fibre roller 44 rotates against the straight back of the clapper while pushing its ball toward the bell. The force stops when the clapper is nearly in contact with the bell, but momentum carries the clapper against the bell, after which it falls away and is held by the roller just far enough away to leave the bell free to vibrate.

Maintenance of a device embodied by the present invention is simple and economical. Suitable grease ttings provide an easy means of lubricating the bearing points. Changing the coils on the solenoid is accomplished by disconnecting the wire connection, removing the stop nuts, allowing the plunger to drop entirely out o! the solenoid, loosening the set screws in the solenoid hangers and swinging the hangers away from each other, thereby dropping the entire solenoid out of the assembly.

There are many advantages which result from the present invention. All connecting parts outside of the bell, except electric wires, are eliminated, thus permitting the bell to be operated while hung in an open tower Without unsightly appendages. The ability completely to reset the entire device by gravity, without noticeable friction is quick and dependable, so that rapid repeat blows, often required in playing the bells of a chime or a carillon are possible without loss of power. The entire device is completely protected from weather by the bell itself regardless of where the bell is placed. The two adjustments of the assembly permit the installation of this equipment in any bel1 without transporting it to a shop for fitting or modification.

It will thus be seen that the objects hereinbefore set forth can readily and eiliciently be attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawing, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described our invention and what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An electric bell striker device adapted lixedly to be supported within the confines of a bell, which comprises a striker frame, a striker mechanism, including a clapper pivotally supported at one end of said frame and an actuating member for said clapper pivotally supported at the other end of said frame, a pull solenoid supported by said frame in vertically operable position, said solenoid being cooperatively connected to said actuating arm, and means, including a suspension member from which said frame is slidably supported, and spacer elements supported above said frame for adjusting said device vertically and horizontally respectively, whereby the strike point of a bell can be found at a definite level.

2. An electric bell striker device adapted fixedly to be supported within the confines of a bell, which comprises a striker frame, a striker mechanism, including a straight back clapper pivotally supported at one end of said frame and an actuating arm for said clapper having a rotating member mounted at one end thereof in engagement with said straight back, and pivotally supported at the other end of said frame, a pull solenoid supported by said frame in vertical operable position, said solenoid being cooperatively connected to said actuating arm, and

means supported by said frame for adjusting said device vertically and horizontally, whereby the strike point of a bell can be found at a definite level.

3. An electric bell striker device adapted to be supported within the connes of a bell, which comprises a striker frame, said striker mechanism including a straight back clapper pivotally supported at one end of said frame and an actuating arm for said clapper having a rotating member mounted at one end thereof in engagement with said clapper and pivotally supported at the other end of said frame, a striker mechanism connected to said frame, a vertically operable solenoid cooperatively connected to said mechanism and having a solenoid plunger provided With a limit stop member, means for supporting said solenoid against said frame, said means being provided with a cooperating stop member below, and in the path of said first named stop member to limit the distance of travel of said plunger, and means supported by said frame for adjusting said device vertically and horizontally, whereby the strike point of a bell can be found at a definite level.

4. An electric bell striker device adapted fixedly to be supported within the confines of a bell, which comprises a frame, a striker mechanism connected to said frame, a pull solenoid supported by said frame in vertically operable position, said solenoid being cooperatively connected to said mechanism, and means including a. vertically adjustable spacer assembly provided by a pair of adjacently disposed rotatable discs whose opposed faces are equipped with a plurality of equally spaced steps adapted to engage each other in face-to-face relation, supported by said frame for adjusting said device vertically, whereby the strike point of a bell can be found at a definite level.

5. In an electric bell striker device adapted fixedly to be supported Within the confines of a bell, the improvement which comprises a frame, a striker mechanism connected to said frame, a pull solenoid supported by said frame in vertically operable position, said solenoid being cooperatively connected to said mechanism, and means, including a supporting element cooperatively connected to the striker frame through an elongated aperture therein supported by said frame for adjusting said device horizontally, whereby the strike point can be found at a definite level.

6. In an electric bell striker device adapted xedly to be supported within the confines of a bell the improvement comprising a supporting frame, said striker mechanism including a straight back clapper pivotally supported at one end of said frame and an actuating arm for said clapper having a rotating member mounted at one end thereof in engagement with said clapper and pivotally supported at the other end of said frame, a striker mechanism connected to said frame, a pull solenoid supported by said frame in vertically operable position, said solenoid being cooperatively connected to said striker mechanism, and means, including a vertically adjustable spacer assembly provided by a pair of adjacently disposed rotatable discs whose opposed faces are equipped with a plurality of equally spaced steps adapted to engage each other in face-to-face relation for adjusting said device vertically, and a supporting element cooperatively connected to the striker frame through an elongated aperture therein supported by said frame for adjusting said device horizontally, whereby the strike point can be found at a definite level.

CLINTON MENEELY. ALF W. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,283,445 Vogel Oct. 29, 1918 1,962,926 Deary June 12, 1934 1,966,780 Wyrick July 17, 1934 2,405,889 Kennedy Aug. 13, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 346,996 Germany Jan. 13. 1922 

